FOURTY male students were apprehended and in police custody over the death of William Garo, a 17-year-old grade nine male student at the Iarowari Secondary School at Sogeri in the Central Province.
Central Provincial Police Commander (PPC), acting Superintendent, Joseph Salle said of the 40 students detained, 25 were grade nines whilst 15 were grade 11s.
PPC Salle said the police would do mass arrest and appropriate criminal charges would be laid against them accordingly. The student who died was believed to be from the Gabagaba village, Rigo District in the Central province.
PPC Salle also confirmed that the death of the student was related to the cult practices in the school. He said the grade 11 students were banging on the chest of the grade nine students in believe of power transfer from the seniors to the juniors.
Mr Salle said the deceased was part of the cult group and died because of the heavy blows received on his chest. He said the Central Police Detectives would continue with the police investigation.
He said the incident occurred in the male dormitory on Thursday 07th November 2024 at around 7pm. The student was pretending to be sick, so the suspect students reported it to the school administration where he was brought to the Port Moresby General hospital only to confirm that he has died.
Mr Salle said the relatives were informed of his death and the relatives went to the hospital and took the deceased body to the school. The relatives appealed to the students to assist police with police investigation.
PPC Salle commended the family members and the relatives of the deceased student for displaying maturity and leadership in this incident.
He assured the relatives of the deceased that those students who were responsible for the death of the student would formally be arrested and charged accordingly.
